Max Verstappen roars to Chinese GP pole as Hamilton sinks to new low.
Max Verstappen will start on pole for the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton’s wretched start of the 2024 season continued in qualifying in Shanghai.
20 April 2024
By Joe Krishnan
Total Motorsport

The Red Bull driver completed a 1-2 to secure the team's 100th pole position in China for Sunday's race. The Dutchman clinched his fifth consecutive pole and continued his perfect record in 2024 qualifying after finishing ahead of Sergio Perez, who beat Fernando Alonso at the checkered flag after a fine lap from the 42-year-old.

Lando Norris joined him on the second row in fourth ahead of Oscar Piastri in fifth, with the McLarens beating the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who were sixth and seventh respectively, while George Russell will start from eighth. It was a disastrous session for Mercedes star Hamilton, however, with the 39-year-old paying a heavy price for an error on his final run in Q1, meaning he will start from down in 18th.

Q2 was brought to a halt when Sainz caught the gravel on the final turn and spun his Ferrari into the barrier, although the Spaniard was fortunate not to sustain any substantial damage to his SF-24 other than a broken front wing.

‘Max Verstappen roars’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...sinks-new-low/


F1 starting grid: What is the grid order for the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix?
20 Apr 2024 9:22 AM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

F1 starting grid: 2024 Chinese Grand Prix
1 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2 Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
4 Lando Norris, McLaren
5 Oscar Piastri, McLaren
6 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
7 Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
8 George Russell, Mercedes
9 Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
10 Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber

‘F1 starting grid’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-sta...ese-grand-prix


Max Verstappen dominates Chinese Grand Prix qualifying as Lewis Hamilton left red-faced
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton were hoping to repeat their Sprint qualifying results in this session that decides the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix, though Max Verstappen wants to continue his pole streak
20th April 2024, 09:25
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Max Verstappen took a predictable pole for the Chinese Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton suffered a "seriously painful" Q1 exit. Hamilton's mistake and subsequent exit was the main story from Q1. Home hero Zhou Guanyu also made an error which meant he could settle for only 16th, much to the disappointment of the passionate Shanghai fans.

Those mistakes gave a reprieve to Perez, who also struggled and was only 15th fastest in that first part of qualifying. He survived, but Zhou, Hamilton, Kevin Magnussen, Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant were not so lucky.

The drama continued into Q2 as Carlos Sainz span and made contact with the barriers. His front wing was ripped off but otherwise no damage appeared to have been done and, as the session was red flagged so the tyre wall could be repaired, he was able to go back to the Ferrari garage for a once-over and head back out on track when qualifying resumed.

‘Max Verstappen dominates’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-grid-32630631


Christian Horner: Perez driving for Red Bull future
Sergio Perez qualified second for the 2024 Chinese GP alongside Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen after improving in the sprint race
20 April 2024
By Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport

Christian Horner praised Sergio Perez‘s recovery after a chastening 2023 Formula 1 season, as the Mexican completed a Red Bull front-row lockout on the occasion of the teams’ 100th pole position at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. “You guys have a tendency to write him off but he’s doing a great job,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.

“He’s an important part of the team, it’s about working collectively, I think he’s got a great engineering support around him, he feels comfortable. He knows he’s out of contract at the end of this season so he’s driving for his future, he responds to pressure in the best possible way, certain drivers respond to pressure and others wilt.”

“He’s come into this season with a new frame of mind, he’s relaxed and driving the car really well, not focussing on his teammate, it’s a different approach and I think in the first five races we’ve seen really strong performance from him. So he’s driving well, confidence is growing and hopefully he can convert that into another good result tomorrow.”

‘First five races we’ve seen really strong performance’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...d-bull-future/


‘We’re not giving up’ – Alonso ‘proud’ of Aston Martin after taking P3 in qualifying for Chinese Grand Prix
20th April 2024, 11:41
Formula One - Official Site

Fernando Alonso was thrilled to claim P3 on the grid during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix, with the Spaniard bouncing back from a disappointing outcome to his Sprint race earlier in the day.
After being forced to retire from the Sprint following a puncture sustained during a battle with Carlos Sainz – for which Alonso was later handed a 10-second time penalty along with three penalty points – the Aston Martin driver seemed raring to go again when it came to qualifying.

“We didn’t give up, we kept pushing all through the lap and we set a good lap time. I think the car did improve since this morning, we made a few set-up changes, and let’s see tomorrow if we can translate that into points.” Teams are now allowed to make changes to their cars after the Sprint and prior to qualifying in line with new parc ferme rules. On whether this proved particularly beneficial for him, Alonso said: “I think it’s the same for everybody.”

‘We’re not giving up’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Rcb8sczGpI8Aai


Lewis Hamilton suffers "seriously painful" Chinese GP embarrassment as Toto Wolff stews
Lewis Hamilton was second quickest in qualifying for the Sprint in Shanghai, but will start the Chinese Grand Prix itself all the way back in 18th after a wretched session
20th April 2024, 08:34
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

By the time everyone had finished their final laps of Q1, Hamilton was marooned down in 18th place. He asked race engineer Peter Bonnington if he had made it through and apologised to his Mercedes team after being told that he hadn't.

In commentary, Nico Rosberg said it would be "seriously painful" for his former team-mate. And Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was seen stewing in the team garage as he watched the footage of Hamilton's error, clearly surprised by the mistake.

‘Toto Wolff stews’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...fying-32630747


‘Wow’: Nico Rosberg baffled by ‘painful' performance from one driver at Chinese Grand Prix
Nico Rosberg far from impressed by one driver after ‘seriously painful’ display
Sat 20 April 2024 10:00
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Nico Rosberg criticised one driver after what he saw as an ‘unnecessary’ mistake in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. As part of a new format, the session took place just hours after the sprint race. 2016 F1 world champion Rosberg feels Hamilton took too great a risk on the brakes at the end of the lap. In his eyes, it was an ‘unnecessary’ error.

“Wow,” he said. “That is painful. That is seriously painful. In 18th position. Honestly, you know that the wind is coming from the back there. He’s had a great lap until then. It was really unnecessary to push the limit there so much. As a seven-time world champion, that’s a mistake that probably should be avoidable.”

Lewis Hamilton brought crashing down to Earth after F1 sprint heroics. Hamilton has endured his worst-ever start to an F1 season but he produced a glimpse of his finest form on Friday. The 103-time race-winner qualified second for the sprint race as he held his own during a late downpour.

‘Nico Rosberg baffled by ‘painful' performance’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nic...inful-display/